LOSS OF DUTCH TRADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 85, 12 April 1946, Page 5

LOSS OF DUTCH TRADE

PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA NOT ENTIRELY DUE TO VESSELS HELD UP Recd. 11.15 p.m. Canberra. April 11. The hold-up o£ vessels in Australian ports could not be entirely blamed for the cancellation of £6,UUO,UO(J worth of Dutch orders for the Netherlands East Indies, said the Prime Minister, Mr. Cliifley, in the House of Representatives. He added that other factors entered into it, including a disagreement on prices and limited purchasing resources Mr. Chifley added that he did not know the particular reason for the Dutch cancellation of orders. He was not condoning the action of the waterside workers, but the trouble had arisen in the first place because Dutch nationals themselves had walked off the ships and re.used to handle them. “Certain statements concerning the quantity of goods the Dutch are prepared to purchase in Australia are completely inaccurate,” said. the Prime Minister. “The fact is they were not prepared to accept our prices for goods, and they would not place their orders with Australia if they found they could get them cheaper somewhere else. That is a sound commercial proposition, and I have no quarrel with it. We have submitted quotes for certain goods, presumably required by the Dutch. I understand the same was done by New Zealand. From memory, I think we received some orders.” Mr. Chifley said: there was no sentiment about trade negotiat'ons. He was sorry Australia was likely to lose all the trade with the Dutch.